CHAPTER 43

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This chapter is dedicated to samlynch22 for her support and for being absolutely amazing! Love you!

Sirius exhaled loudly, closing his trunk with difficulty after stacking the last of his belongings into it. He was ready to go.

He picked up his wand and shrunk his trunk into a bagpack. Legally, he wasn't old enough to use magic outside Hogwarts yet. But 12, Grimmauld Place was protected to prevent detection of underage magic. Otherwise how would they prepare their son Regulus for the deatheater duties? Besides, his parents have always liked to do stuff behind the Ministry's back... supporting the 'Dark Lord' and all.

Sirius sighed as he thought about Regulus. He was leaving him alone. Well, not alone... if he counted parents and Kreacher... but his parents weren't worth counting. Regulus seem to get along fine with Kreacher, though how, he wasn't sure.

He couldn't be weak now, he told himself. Everything was ready. The conditions were favourable, his parents were away to Malfoy Manor, only Regulus and Kreacher was home. He could overpower Kreacher easily, though he wasn't sure what to say to Regulus. But he knew one thing... he had to escape.

He hoisted the backpack, grabbed his wand and took a last look around his room. The moving Quidditch posters, figurines, posters of skimpy clothed muggle girls, few photographs, these were the only things he was leaving behind. Along with sixteen years of gloom, sadness and frustration. No, he wasn't sad to leave this place. Neither was he afraid. He knew that Charlus and Dorea would make him feel happier and wanted- much more than any emotion he had ever felt in this house. If anything was making him doubt his decision, it was only his brother...Regulus.

Honestly, Regulus was the only one who he cared about in this house... and probably vice versa. He wasn't thrilled to leave him alone- he knew that Regulus, despite of being a Slytherin, didn't exactly like their parent's mindset... nor was he very much excited to serve the Dark Lord. On the other hand, he couldn't take Regulus with him either. He knew that Regulus was far more attached to the family than he was... and that was the only reason he was in Slytherin, the only reason why he wanted to serve the Dark Lord, or follow the rules at all.

No, Sirius couldn't allow Regulus to take the path he's taking right now. Regulus might pluck up the courage to leave the house, after all he was brave. But Sirius knew, since Regulus was mentally more attached to the family- guilt would eventually crush him. Sirius on the other hand, never felt anything towards his family except resentment and anger. He wouldn't feel anything for them. Besides, after he is burnt off the tapestry, the Blacks will be thirsty for his blood. He couldn't put Regulus in the same position.

He steeled himself. He had to go. Coming out of the room, he closed the door without looking back. He climbed down the stairs.

"Oh, young Master leaving the house... what would my Mistress say?!" Kreacher squeaked as he blocked his path, muttering under his breath- "Not that she expected anything more from young master... bringing disgrace to family name..."

"You're right. Mother didn't expect anything from me." Sirius growled as he raised his wand towards Kreacher. He knew Kreacher couldn't use magic on him, because technically, he was still a Black...thus his master. He knew it wasn't right to use Kreacher's weakness to his favour, but he had no choice.

"Leave my way."

"Not that Kreacher feels any wish to stop young master, but Kreacher must... what would Mistress say?" Sirius didn't insist again.

"Petrificus totalus!" The stiff form of Kreacher fell to the ground. However, this sound caused Regulus to come out of the next room.

Sirius was hoping to leave the house without meeting him. What was he doing downstairs anyway? Regulus stared at Kreacher for a few seconds before speaking up.

"Going somewhere?"

"I'm going away." Sirius answered curtly. Regulus stared towards his backpack for a few seconds.

"To where?"

"The Potters."

"No" Regulus muttered, not looking at his eyes, "Really? You're actually doing this?"

"Did you think I was bluffing?"

"You can't leave me." Regulus muttered, silencing Sirius. "I can't live here alone."

"You can. You were always the better son...they love you..."

"You don't understand." Regulus's voice cracked, "I can't be here alone... you're my elder brother, you can't leave me alone! I'll... I'll hex you." He raised his wand towards him. Instinctively, Sirius raised his wand as well.

After few seconds of dense silence, Sirius smiled.

"Going to hex me, are you?" Regulus lowered his wand and sighed.

"Take me with you" he said, startling Sirius. "Please." Sirius gulped down his guilt and shook his head.

"You have the dark mark on you. You're a deatheater." He didn't mean the words to come out so harshly, but when they came, he winced at the intensity of his own words. But it was necessary. He couldn't let Regulus follow his path. It was dangerous, and he had to keep his brother safe. Regulus looked hurt, and glared at him.

"So now that is what I am to you? Just another deatheater?"

"No." Sirius didn't want to say those words, but it was the only way to keep Regulus safe...to keep him away from himself. "You're just a deatheater who looks a bit like my brother."

"You don't want to take me, fine." Regulus's voice was surprisingly light. Not what he expected. "There is no need to be nasty. You can just say no. Besides, I know you don't mean those stuff you said."

To his astonishment, Regulus moved away from the front door.

"Good luck. I didn't see you. You sneaked away. I couldn't have stopped you. Understand?"

Sirius nodded, too numb to say anything. He went through the door and closed it behind him, not looking back.

After walking few feet away from the door, he looked back. 12, Grimmauld Place shrunk between 11 and 13. Within a few seconds, 11 and 13 Grimmauld Place were standing adjoined, closing away sixteen years of misery, gloom and resentment between them. Muggles from borh the houses carried on with there own work, not knowing that somewhere between their walls, a boy of fifteen, bearing a dark mark had lost his last connection with his elder brother.

Sirius held up his wand. It was raining heavily. The knight bus arrived. Sirius got up into the bus and told the conductor, who was giggling for no apparent reason- "Godric's Hollow."

"I jus' took two passengers from there yesterday." the conductor commented in a conversing manner. Sirius didn't pay him much attention, he wasn't in the mood to talk after saying goodbye to Regulus. He was worried for his brother.

"Yeah?" He said, absent-minded.

"Aye... a boy with messy black 'air and a red-head girl." This statement caught his attention. Apparently James and Ginny had gone somewhere.

"Where did you leave them?"

"John Lupin's 'ouse. Aren' back yet." The conductor started giggling again.

Great, Sirius thought. They aren't home yet, they're at Moony's house.

"But my friend living there saw them gettin' ou' as well, with Lyall Lupin's son. They haven' returned either."

Great, stun me now! Sirius thought, as the bus suddenly jerked forward sideways and he had to grab for the window.

"Anothe' strande' group o' wizards!" The conductor giggled happily... "Hop on... oh, you!"

Two boys and two girls came into the bus, laughing among themselves. They stopped short at the sight of Sirius.

"Hi" Sirius greeted cheerfully, "what did I miss?"

Bad Aro! Bad Aro! *slams head on the wall* Always late in updates, replies and everything!
I am horribly sorry for the late update, yet again! I don't know how many times I have to apologize for that! I was really busy with college admission and stuff. But no excuses.
Hope this chapter kind of made up for the wait huh? Two successive Marauder pov- Jamrs and Sirius respectively! Was this chapter good enough?
I will update soon and won't make you wait yet another long time, I swear on River Styx!

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